Name: Misty Adair, husband John, two young sons and dog, Lucy
Location: Allandale, Austin, TX
Size: 1375 square feet
Years lived in: 6 years
When we spotted some photos of Misty's home in a few of her previous posts here on Apartment Therapy, we knew we needed to get in there for a house tour! A visit to Misty's house in the Allandale neighborhood doesn't disappoint. Full of bright colors, fun designs and a clean, organized aesthetic, you'll get inspiration from all of Misty's neat decor ideas.
Though Misty and her husband have recently placed this adorable home on the market (just moving to a different part of town, not because they don't love it!), the house is still an excellent example of not being afraid to try out bold colors or interesting layouts. At just over 1300 square feet, this three bedroom, one and half bath house feels huge! The place feels very open, and lots of windows let in tons of natural light (even on the gray day we shot these photos). Though many rooms feature their own color and decor schemes, the house has a cohesive design. We also admired many of Misty's simple organizational ideas, like an ultra-efficient entryway in a nook by the front door, and a kitchen command center on a wall of the kitchen. Rounding out the rest of the house's features is a huge backyard complete with a big playset, artist's studio and separate, fenced in dog area.
AT Survey:
My style: I suppose it's vintage eclectic -- because our house is a 50's cottage with a random sampling of things collected. My personal style preference changes all the time but my budget doesn't quite keep up.
Inspiration: Whatever I am currently obsessed with . . . which could be an Echino fabric or a vintage china pattern or a spread in Domino (oh, how I miss Domino).
Favorite Element: I love my kitchen, especially the farmhouse sink, counter weight pendant lights and the built-in plate rack.
Biggest Challenge: Staying organized, which is a challenge for us anyway. With a busy family coming and going we seem to be always depositing things all over the house. And homes are just not as cute when they're messy.
What Friends Say: They say it feels happy and inviting. People always rave about the Camus quote on the front door and the brick floor in our kitchen. We also hear that the house feels bigger than it really is because the space is so efficiently laid out.
Biggest Embarrassment: We bought a coffee table that is hinged so the tabletop lifts up to double as a TV tray. It is probably a pretty tacky thing to have but most of our friends are still jealous.
Proudest DIY: The stripes I painted in the boy's bedroom. Much less fun and satisfying was hanging sheet rock in my studio. We did it (miserably) and it almost ended our marriage.
Biggest Indulgence: Does the TV count? My husband counts that as furniture but I beg to differ. I would say our bedroom furniture was the biggest splurge, only because we bought it all at once. Honestly, we are just not at a fancy phase in our life.
Best advice: This comes from my 5 year old: "I'm not afraid of color because it doesn't move or scare you." Be brave and use color in your home...but always test paint colors first. There is very little in your home that you can't undo.
Dream source: Mercury Design Studio
Other Inspiration: Our lifestyle - we have a practical house that works with our budget and busy family. I am also constantly inspired by the creativity of others and random things in the world around me. I try to be observant because I can always be surprised.
Resources:
Hardware: Original glass doorknobs, BMC for drawer pulls
Furniture: Antiques, Pottery Barn, Ikea, BluDot, West Elm, custom-made buffet
Beds: Pottery Barn and twin beds that were my Dad's when he was a kid.
Lighting: Pottery Barn, Target, vintage cowboy lamp from Ebay
Paint: Kitchen is Benjamin Moore Covington Blue, Dining Room is Sherwin Williams Ryegrass, Living Room is Sherwin Williams Cafe au Lait
Flooring: Original oak floors
Rugs and Carpets: Flor tiles, Pier One
Tiles and Stone: Almost all original, subway is Daltile, Quartz counters from La Viatera
Window Treatments: Plantation shutters, Pottery Barn, Ikea, The Shade Store
Accessories: Target, Ikea, antique stores
(Thanks, Misty, it was a pleasure!)
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Really lovely
I love a cheerful family home, especially one that doesn't take itself too seriously! My list of favorites for this tour was pretty long: the door quote, the boys' duvets, their whole room, the putting green in the office, the master bedroom the kitchen!, everything about the kitchen, the light, the colors. How can you move??
Hey! I used to live in Crestview, just down the way from you! Nice to see someone from the old 'hood here.
Your house is lovely, I especially love the kitchen--those floors are great. I don't think I've ever seen any like that in Austin.
The chenille cowboy bedspreads are adorable as well. Great house!
What an adorable home! Love the color schemes used throughout, the colors really work well together.
Nice and clean, especially considering you have kids. Could you let us know where the daybed/chaise is from? Thanks!
I love your kitchen! Great job.
I actually bought the little chaise in the living room from Overstock.com for something like $300. I needed something narrow and that fit the bill. I was really considering switching it out to something like the Antoinette Fainting sofa from Urban Outfitters.
This daybed is similar to the one I have now:
http://www.chaiselounges.com/indoor-chaise-lounges/traditional/taylorchaiselounge.cfm
Wow, this is one of my most favorite tours ever.
What a lovely house. That's the first time I've seen the peachy tile improved on.
So adorable, Misty. You really have the best sense of color and a keen eye for accessories. I wish I could hire you to decorate my whole house! Can't wait to see what you do with your next home....
Love it! Well put together in a fun, colorful, cheerful and eclectic way. This house has a great feel to it!!
Any chance you could tell me where you purchased the chenille cowboy bedspreads? I am hoping they are not vintage (so I can purchase one too!) but guessing that they are. Just thought I'd check though.
Thanks!!
I bought the chenille bedspreads several years ago, so I don't know if they are still available. They are reproduction with one coming from an on-line children's boutique and the other one scored on e-bay.
Ooh, just found a similar one on e-bay that might actually be a vintage bedspread: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290398794429
Love love love the boys' room and the kitchen. Thank you for inspiring me!
That is just about the best boy-bedroom I have ever seen! Perfect to the finest detail!
What happened, though, to the stencil, or sticker, or whatever it was, above the bed? It's there in the linkback, and it's lovely!
I had several vinyl decals up on the walls and I adored them, BUT preparing our house to go on the market meant taking some of those down :(
This is my all-time favorite house tour! I wouldn't change a single paint color. Such clean, bright and colorful style! I love it! And all without being super-fancy or out of reach expensive!
Where did you get your shower curtain? It looks perfect in your bathroom!
terrific home! one of my favorites!! so lovely and cheerful. :)
Misty, never have I seen a whole home on AT that I would call an inspiration. Your color palette matches the one in my head. Great job. K
Hey, is the living room rug made of those plaid FLOR tiles? I know you say FLOR tiles in your resources list but I just wanted to confirm.
Great house all around!
Wow-you made peach tile in the bathroom look good! That's impressive. =>
I love the thread of turquoise in different intensities running through the house. It creates excellent continuity and makes all of the other colors play nicely together.
The boys' bedroom is my very favorite part. Adorable but can easily mature with them with a few switches.
How weird! I live in Austin and we're looking to buy a home soon. Not now unfortunately, probably 2 years or so. But I saw this home in the MLS listings and it is by far our favorite. It would be perfect for us... sigh
This is a great "real person" home! I love all the colors, especially the green in the dining room. I also enjoy that you kept what appears to be older/original tile in the bathrooms. It is always so sad when people rip them out or update them when they can flow with the right wall color and accessories.
Many of you commented on the peach tile . . . and yes, I fought hard to save it when we had some plumbing updates. I think it is important to stay true to the character and age of the home. But it was not easy finding a shower curtain that worked, until I discovered this one from Garnet Hill: http://www.garnethill.com/jump.jsp?itemID=7424&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C5%2C5429%2C5864&iProductID=7424
The rug in the living room that is sort of plaid looking is actually from Pier One, but I have used the plaid Flor tiles before and love them.
Great house! (I live in Crestview, and I like the way all the houses around here have so much light and feel bigger than they are.)
I think I've driven past it, but if it's the one I'm thinking of it's right next to 2222. That'll be a slightly tough sell though its proximity to Amy's Ice Cream will overcome many objections.
What? Coffee tables that double as t.v. trays aren't tacky; they're awesome. My friend has one and I've been jealous ever since.
Thanks Misty for the bedspread info and find on ebay!!
Hi! Love your site! Im an architect and interior designer, check out my blog!
www.irinapopel.blogspot.com
Actually, the brick pavers in the kitchen were in the house when we bought it 6 years ago. The kitchen was done in a rustic, French country style so we gutted it. We went with Ikea cottage style cabinets to brighten up the kitchen, but we kept the floor because it is so unique.
Misty, do tell where the rose-colored paint in the master bed and bath are from. It glows.
This is so cute! My favorite part, like so many other's, is the boy's bedroom. Hardly ever do you see kids rooms that are so wonderful - usually people use neons or put a bunch of plastic stuff in them, but this room has that great vintage, simple feel to it and looks so comforting. What great beds! It's the kind of room they will look back on fondly when they grow up. Oh, and my other favorite part: your son's quote! That is the best reason I've ever heard not to fear color, so thanks for convincing me!
I too am so glad you kept the original tile - I love it! And I was surprised how well the contrasting pinks and blues go, they look great. This is such a simple, friendly, happy looking space; I love your use of color (but not over the top color) and the old fashioned feel of the space. It also does look wonderfully organized and clean. I'm saving a couple pictures for my inspiration file. Thanks for sharing your home, and I hope you are as happy in your new home. :)
What a beautiful home... I appreciated this tour for so many reasons, I love that you included a picture of the exterior! Thank you, as well as an excellent sense of the flow of your home... Also, great ideas for children's toy storage and decor... And I also was so happy to see that you kept the beautiful original tile in the bathrooms, and worked with the colors so well rather than thinking them tacky. Thank you for the tour!! Many inspiring ideas.
my favorite tour so far! love that you used colors on your walls, all kinds, and made it look very good.
Dear God, this is absolutely wonderful!!!! This would be a dream to live in:) Great job!
Fabulous artwork and coordinating pillows!!
I love your home - very fresh and cheerful!
Could you tell me the color of the paint in the kitchen?
Thanks!!!!!!!
Love the boys bedroom, when I saw the stripes I had to do a second take...we have the same color and size of stripes in our boys playroom! Love the kitchen and the general feel of your home. Good Luck selling.
I love love love the cowboy bedspreads!!!!!!! And everything else, too :)
What a lovely, happy home! The colors are wonderful! I adore the toy cash register on the shelf. Too cute! This is one of my favorite house tours! Thank you for sharing.
http://girlwhimsy.blogspot.com
Regarding the paint color in the master bedroom. . . that was a bit of a risk and people always ask if my husband approves of pink (he he fine with it). This shade is slightly peachy pink which is very soothing and looks beautiful in the morning light. I used a shade between Sherwin Williams Intimate White SW6322 and SW6323.
And to answer the kitchen question again: that color is Benjamin Moore Covington Blue which is one of my all time favorite, never fail colors. It looks great with everything.
i love love love the bedroom! and everything else, too.
The bedroom is a definite fave, and I would love to see pics of the artist's studio.
Misty, the pink paint was a good risk. It's feminine, but it's definitely not "oh good lord, she painted it pink." It looks more like an aspect of the natural light that comes into the room, than like paint on the wall. Same thing with the cafe au lait color in your front room. You are really good at this!
Wow! I got all the way through this cute house tour to that last photo showing the exterior and realized I drive by this house all the time! I've always thought the outside was so cute so this was great to see - awesome!
Beautiful Misty. I'm so afraid of color in our home and you've done a great job. What color is your front door? I just painted my front door orange, but it all went horribly, horribly wrong.
I am in love with this house-this is my favorite house tour so far.:)
Great house! My fave is the plaid rug in the opening photo.
What a beautiful bedroom. I love that kitchen - I love how even your dish soap is colorful! The exterior of the house is even cute and colorful.
Great, inspirational house tour! I have seen many people comment on how well Misty worked with the pink/ salmon colored tile in the first bathroom. We have the same tile in our bathroom! I would love to know what that blue paint color is, between that and the shower curtain it looks very updated and cute! Thanks!
Answering more paint color questions. . . I love me some color, as you can see!
Okay, the bathroom blue is Quench Blue SW6785 (which goes with the shower curtain from Garnet Hill -- still available on line).
The front door orange is Energetic Orange SW6880. It is a very saturated red orange so it looks good in the sunlight. Many people make the mistake of going with a browner based orange and it ends up looking muddy.
Very nice! How did you do the quote on the front door?
The quote on the door is a lot funnier (and rather arch, if you'll excuse the pun) when you know the context in which Camus wrote it:
I knew a pure heart who rejected mistrust. He was a pacifist and libertarian and loved all humanity and the animals with an equal love. An exceptional soul, that's certain. Well, during the last wars of religion in Europe he had retired to the country. He had written on his threshhold, "Wherever you are from, come in and be welcome." Who do you think answered that noble invitiation? The militia, who made themselves at home and disembowled him.
I love subversive design. Kudos, Misty!
So cheery without being twee. I love that you didn't immediatly gut the bathrooms but instead made them work in a retro-yet-modern way. And I love, love, love the master bedroom. Dining room and kitchen too. Heck, all of it!
This is the exact color of my bathroom tile!
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n213/ariel310/b35c0898a4814a999a65b675d873d8af.jpg?t=1259684400
Note that this is a picture with the previous owner's belongings. I have been thinking long and hard about which color to paint it and I may just 'borrow' your color combo!
Lovely home!
The quote on the door (and the one I used to have over my bed) are from a company called Wonderful Graffiti. You can order any of their ready made quotes in lots of fonts or have one custom made. They come on a sheet of contact paper and transfer as vinyl decals. I love this stuff.
http://secure.wonderfulgraffiti.com/
What an adorable home! I especially like the "little buckaroo" room!
Wow, absolutely amazing. I want to move in right now! Really nicely done, my favorite on this website; I love everything! :-D
Love, love , love your house. Sorry you're moving, but can't wait to see your next home. Love the chenille bedspreads. And I've been thinking of buying that very shower curtain for my new house which has two original tiled baths (one gray, one yellow.) Can I ask what the blue china is above the sink, by the plate rack? I have turquoise Fiesta but I'd like to get something more formal as well.
I love the colors and creativity... and I MUST have those bird decals.. where did you get them, if you don't mind me asking?
fantastic esp love the art and your kitchen thanks!
LOVE LOVE LOVE it to pieces! Everything is so carefully thought out and so well designed, and I love the vintage vases and the birds throughout. You're inspiring me to allow my own collections to become part of my home!!
I agree with everyone on the way you were able to rock the peachy-pink tile in your bathroom. I have TWO bathrooms with pink and I was able to "embrace" one of them, but I hide the other whenever possible with a x-large white shower curtain. :) Good for you for making it work.
The blue china in the kitchen is a vintage pattern called Singapore that belonged to my grandmother. The bird decals are actually made from vintage wallpaper and I believe I got them at Romp, but not sure if they are still available. I think you could make your own if you die-cut old wallpaper.
Nice home - great job - the boys bedspreads are wonderful - as are the painted pieces - lots of windows really make a diff in a ranch
Charming
Misty,
You living room is AWESOME! I am transitioning from a contemporary red & black living room to something softer by adding some blue and beige, and your photos are a great example.
I've been searching for a coffee table similar to the one you have (and as much as I hated lift-ups at first, when I used on at a friend's house, I fell in love!). Do you mind telling me where you got it?
Thanks so much for sharing!
Allison from Houston
Ditto. Very nice.
I am so in love with the house, and not just because the we have the same Ikea Stat cabinets and apron sink, but the colors are so warm and it feels so inviting. I bookmarked this home tour, it’s my absolute favorite. :-)
Just love your colors! For the Ryegrass - would you say it goes well with red accents? I know that's a little hard with greens sometimes so what's your opinion on this specific one?